A PSG kickoff strategy compilation from this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup highlights some of the madness and genius being used by manager Luis Enrique. Paris Saint-Germain’s aggressive pressing has caused opposing teams fits all tournament and it starts from the kickoff.
Probably 99.9% of games begin with a backwards pass and holding possession. Not PSG. They line up like an NFL kickoff, boot the ball out of bounds near the opponent’s corner flag and charge the enemy team to create pressure.
PSG kickoff strategy compilation
How clever is this kickoff tactic from @PSG_English?
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You know in Family Feud where the person will get the option to “Pass or Play?” This is essentially PSG using the “Pass” option on the kickoff and then punishing their opponents for it.
Enrique got the kickoff idea from fellow French club Lyon and the Parisian club have been seen using it in Ligue 1, the Champions League and now the Club World Cup.
“Teams will figure you out. In football, there’s no magic wand. You’ve got to keep switching things up and evolving,” Enrique said about the kickoff strategy.
It won’t be long before opposing teams will just have two players waiting by a spare ball on either side of the field prepared to throw the ball in before the PSG cavalry complete their 50-yard sprint.
When PSG play Chelsea in the Club World Cup final on Sunday fans can expect to see PSG blast their opening kickoff into the Blues’ final third.
